HELPING OUT IN THE WESTERN SUBURBS

Rescued from Katrina, still in need of homes

As the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, several of the storm's canine victims are still hoping for a new life and a new home.

The Naperville Area Humane Society recently received about 14 displaced dogs from the New Orleans area. The dogs had been bouncing around different shelters and foster homes.

The dogs are in good condition, under 10 years old and ready for adoption.

Even though the Naperville Area Humane Society has been around for nearly 30 years, the organization's executive director, Linda Linford, would just as soon close the doors for good.

"Our goal is to put ourselves out of business, which would mean there are no more homeless animals," Linford said.

The society offers classes on humane education and teaches respect, empathy and compassion for animals.

"We want to solve the problem of homelessness and see the cycle of animal violence end forever," Linford said.

There are several opportunities for volunteering at the Naperville Area Humane Society, including cleaning cages, walking dogs, socializing with cats, pet therapy, outreach programs and fundraising.

For more information, call 630-420-8989 or visit www.napervillehumanesociety.org.

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Volunteer opportunities

Project CARE (Community Adult Reading Experience), the adult volunteer literacy program at Morton College in Cicero, is looking for volunteer tutors. An orientation session will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 13 in the Cicero Public Library, 5225 W. Cermak Rd. Twelve hours of training are required, and classes are free. Volunteers are asked to provide one to two hours of tutoring per week. For more information, call 708-656-8000, ext. 383.

The Wellness House in Hinsdale, which provides cancer support to patients and their families, needs volunteer help. Opportunities include clerical tasks, library aid, mailings, light maintenance, outreach and special event help. Volunteers are asked to give two to three hours per week. For more information, call Sue Ryan at 630-323-5150.

Literacy Volunteers of DuPage will hold a series of six tutor training courses from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 7, 11, 14, 18, 21 and Oct. 5 in the Bloomingdale Public Library, 101 Fairfield Way in Bloomingdale. No teaching experience is necessary. Anyone high school graduate 18 or older is eligible. Tutors meet with adult students once a week at a time and location convenient for both. Call 630-416-6699.

More than 100 Concordia University students will gather food from River Forest neighborhoods on Friday for the Oak Park Food Pantry. Residents can leave donations on their front porches Friday morning, and incoming freshmen will be out on foot from 9 a.m. to noon to collect them. Non-residents can arrange a donation pickup by calling Joel Moritz at 708-209-3505.

The DuPage PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) will hold a 10K and 5K run as well as a 3K fun walk at 8 a.m. Sept. 10 starting and finishing at the DuPage PADS headquarters, 705 W. Liberty St. in Wheaton. Proceeds will fund counseling and employment readiness programs and provide overnight, transitional and permanent housing for the homeless. The cost is $28 for online registration, $30 for mail-in registration and $35 on race day. For more information, call 630-682-3846 or visit www.dupagepads.org.

The Humanitarian Service Project will hold an art fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 9 and from noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 10 on the service project's grounds, 1425 S. Neltnor Blvd. in West Chicago. A special preview sale (with an admission price of $10) will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 8. Call 630-231-1542 or visit www.humanitarianservice.org.

Those making a difference

The Sisters of Mercy, Regional Community of Chicago recently gave a $10,000 grant to St. Francis High School in Wheaton.